Cricket

The Indian cricket team, led by Shubman Gill, is embarking on a five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, commencing on July 6 in Harare. This series marks a significant opportunity for young talents to showcase their abilities and establish themselves in the national team.The squad, overseen by National Cricket Academy head VVS Laxman, features a blend of experienced players and promising newcomers. Among the fresh faces are Riyan Parag and Abhishek Sharma, who have impressed with their performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL).Shubman Gill, who was previously the reserve opener for the T20 World Cup, will join the team directly from the United States. The BCCI has shared images of the squad boarding their flight on social media.However, five key players—Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, and Khaleel Ahmed—are currently stranded in Barbados due to Hurricane Beryl. These players, who were part of the T20 World Cup-winning team or traveling reserves, will join the team in Zimbabwe once the weather improves.The recent retirements of senior players Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja from the T20 format have created opportunities for younger players. This series against Zimbabwe presents a crucial chance for these emerging talents to solidify their positions in the national team for future engagements.India's squad for the T20I series against Zimbabwe:* Shubman Gill (captain)* Yashasvi Jaiswal* Ruturaj Gaikwad* Abhishek Sharma* Rinku Singh* Sanju Samson (wk)* Dhruv Jurel (wk)* Shivam Dube* Riyan Parag* Washington Sundar* Ravi Bishnoi* Avesh Khan* Khaleel Ahmed* Mukesh Kumar* Tushar Deshpande

The Indian cricket team, fresh from their triumph at the T20 World Cup, faced an unexpected delay in their return home due to Hurricane Beryl. The storm forced the closure of the airport in Barbados, leaving the team and their entourage stranded for two days.However, relief came on Tuesday evening when Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced that the airport was expected to resume operations within the next six to 12 hours. This news brought a sigh of relief to the Indian contingent, who have been eager to return home and celebrate their victory.The team's victory on Saturday was a historic moment for Indian cricket. After a title drought of 11 years, the Rohit Sharma-led squad defeated South Africa by seven runs in a thrilling final. The win sparked jubilation across India and cemented the team's status as one of the world's best.Despite the airport closure, the Indian team remained in high spirits, according to Prime Minister Mottley. She praised the team for their resilience and expressed her hope that they would be able to leave Barbados soon.The hurricane, which lashed Barbados and nearby islands on Monday, caused significant damage to coastal infrastructure. However, Mottley emphasized that the storm could have been much worse and expressed gratitude that it did not make landfall.The Indian team's departure from Barbados is now imminent, but they face a narrow window of opportunity as another hurricane is expected to approach on Wednesday. Prime Minister Mottley expressed her hope that the team would be able to leave before the next storm arrives.The Indian cricket team's victory at the T20 World Cup has been a source of immense pride for the nation. Their triumph has brought joy to millions of fans and has further cemented India's status as a cricketing powerhouse.

Rahul Dravid's tenure as head coach of the Indian cricket team will conclude after the T20 World Cup 2024, prompting the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to initiate the search for his successor. While Gautam Gambhir and WV Raman have emerged as potential candidates, the absence of Dravid's reapplication has raised questions.BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has shed light on Dravid's decision, revealing that the board respected his desire to prioritize family commitments. "He told me that due to family commitments he wants to quit and we respect his decision. I didn't want to force him to extend," Shah stated.Shah lauded Dravid's invaluable contributions to Indian cricket, both as a player and an administrator. "Rahul bhai has served Indian cricket for the past five and half years. He was director of the National Cricket Academy for three years and then for the past two and half years, he served as head coach of Team India," Shah said.He emphasized Dravid's pivotal role in India's recent T20 World Cup triumph, alongside captain Rohit Sharma. "Rahul Dravid's role is as important as Rohit Sharma in this T20 World Cup title triumph. He is a man, who took the team to the 2023 ODI World Cup final and didn't wanted to leave because he wanted to finish the job," Shah added.The BCCI has confirmed that the new head coach will be appointed in time for India's upcoming series against Sri Lanka. "Both coach and selector appointments will be made shortly. CAC has interviewed and shortlisted two names and after reaching Mumbai whatever they have decided we will go by that. VVS Laxman is going to Zimbabwe but a new coach will join from the Sri Lanka series," Shah said.

Rahul Dravid's tenure as the Indian cricket team coach culminated in a triumphant farewell as his side emerged victorious in the T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa. In a candid post-match interview, Dravid displayed his characteristic wit and humor, joking about his impending unemployment.Dravid's contract with the Indian cricket team expired after the tournament, and he had previously announced his decision not to extend it. In a lighthearted exchange with reporters, he quipped, "Yeah, I will be [able to move on from the victory]. I mean, next week life will be the same for me. I'll be unemployed, that'll be the only difference."Dravid's jovial demeanor drew laughter from the journalists, and he continued, "I am unemployed from next week, any offers?" The search for Dravid's successor is already underway, with former India batter Gautam Gambhir reportedly emerging as the frontrunner.Reflecting on his time with Dravid, Indian captain Rohit Sharma expressed his gratitude and admiration. "I tried to persuade him to stay, but there are obviously various factors he needs to consider. Nevertheless, I cherished the time spent with him," Sharma said."He was my first international captain when I entered the scene in Ireland. I also witnessed his captaincy during my early Test matches. He's been a significant role model for us," Sharma added.Dravid's departure marks the end of an era for Indian cricket. His tenure as coach was characterized by a focus on discipline, teamwork, and player development. Under his guidance, the Indian team achieved notable successes, including a historic Test series victory in Australia in 2020-21.As Dravid embarks on a new chapter in his life, the Indian cricket team will look to build on the foundation he has laid. The search for his successor is a crucial step in ensuring the continued success of the team.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is poised to appoint a new head coach for the Indian cricket team ahead of the limited-overs series in Sri Lanka later this month. Former opener Gautam Gambhir is widely tipped to replace Rahul Dravid, who stepped down after India's disappointing exit from the T20 World Cup.BCCI secretary Jay Shah confirmed the news, revealing that the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) had interviewed and shortlisted two candidates. "Both coach and selector appointments will be made shortly," Shah said. "CAC has interviewed and shortlisted two names and after reaching Mumbai whatever they have decided we will go by that."The CAC shortlisted Gambhir and former India women's coach WV Raman for the high-profile position. The Indian cricket team will tour Sri Lanka for three T20Is and three ODIs, beginning on July 27.Shah praised key players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for their contributions to India's recent T20 World Cup victory. Both players played essential roles in the final against South Africa, leading India to a seven-run victory. Sharma and Kohli have since announced their retirement from T20 international cricket, with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja following suit a day later."It was the same captain last year and here in Barbados," Shah commented. "We won all games except the final in 2023 as Australia played better. This time we worked even harder and played better to win the title. If you look at other teams, experience counts. From Rohit to Virat, all excelled. Experience makes a lot of difference, in World Cups you can't experiment much also. A good player knows when to say goodbye to the game, we saw that yesterday. You look at Rohit's strike rate, it is better than a lot of young players."Shah noted that leadership decisions would be confirmed after discussions with the selectors. "Captaincy will be decided by the selectors and we will announce it after discussing with them. You asked about Hardik, there were a lot of questions over his form but we and selectors showed faith in him and he proved himself."Shah addressed the transition in the team following the retirement of such significant players. "Transition has already happened with three greats retiring," he added.India, which has faced a series of disappointments in big finals over the past decade, broke their title drought with the recent T20 World Cup victory. Jay Shah expressed optimism about maintaining this winning momentum."I would want India to win all the titles," Shah expressed. "We have the biggest bench strength, only three players from this team are going to Zimbabwe. We can field three teams if the need arises. The way this team is progressing, our target is to win the World Test Championship final and Champions Trophy. There will be a similar squad playing there. The seniors will be there."While plans for a felicitation ceremony for the victorious squad are underway, they have been delayed due to a hurricane warning that has shut down the airport in Barbados."Like you, we are also stuck here," Shah said. "Once the travel plans are clear, we will think about the felicitation."Shah also confirmed that an India A team would tour Australia later this year, in preparation for the five-Test series Down Under.

Indian Cricket Team's Return Delayed by Hurricane BerylThe Indian cricket team's triumphant return to India has been temporarily halted due to the impact of Hurricane Beryl. The team, led by Rohit Sharma, recently emerged victorious in the T20 World Cup, bringing an end to an 11-year drought for an ICC championship.Hurricane Beryl, which originated in the Atlantic, has intensified into a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds reaching 210 kmph. The hurricane is currently located approximately 570km east-southeast of Barbados and is expected to strengthen further. As a result, the airport in Bridgetown, where the Indian team is currently based, is expected to cease operations in the evening.The Indian team's original travel itinerary involved taking an Emirates flight from New York, with a stopover in Dubai. However, given the current circumstances, a source informed PTI that the revised plan is to arrange a charter flight to bring the team back to India."The team was supposed to leave from here (Bridgetown) to New York and then reach India via Dubai. But now the plan is to get a charter flight straight from here to Delhi. A meeting with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also being considered," a source said.The Indian delegation, comprising players, coaching staff, family members, and officials, totals around 70 individuals. The team's return to India is eagerly anticipated by fans and officials alike, who are keen to celebrate their historic victory.

Rahul Dravid, the former Indian cricket captain, is set to step down as the team's head coach after the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 final between India and South Africa. Dravid has been at the helm of the Indian team for the past two and a half years, and his tenure has been marked by both success and challenges.In a recent interview, Dravid reflected on his coaching journey and shared his thoughts on the experience. He said that coaching the Indian Cricket Team has been a great learning experience for him and his family. He also stated that he will take back the connections that he has built during his tenure."I've really enjoyed myself. I think it's been a great learning experience for me and my family as well. I think everyone's got invested in the Indian team over the last two and a half years. I certainly have, obviously, being here. But so has my family in each and every result that the Indian team has been part of. So it's been really nice for me as well to see how my two young boys have taken to it. The kind of people that I've had the pleasure of working with, my coaching staff, the people who I've worked closely with," said Dravid."I know there have been results and we've had some really good results in this time, we've had some times where it's not been that easy. And that's part and parcel of being a coach and being a cricket team. But for me, I think the fondest memories that I'll take back is the connections that I've built, the friendships that I've built. That'll last long after I forget and remember some of these good results or bad results," Dravid added.India came close on a couple of occasions to ending their hiatus of lifting an ICC World Cup trophy. After their success in 2011, India came lost the 2014 T20 World Cup final. In 2016, the West Indies thumped them in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup. In 2023, Australia toppled India to lift their record-extending sixth ODI World Cup trophy.India have a chance to finally end the wait to get their hands on the coveted prize if they defeat South Africa in the final of the tournament. With South Africa also not having lost a match, the T20 World Cup final will be a clash between the two unbeaten sides of the tournament.

Rahul Dravid, the outgoing head coach of the Indian cricket team, expressed his gratitude for the connections he has forged during his tenure as he prepares for his final match in charge against South Africa in the T20 World Cup finale on Saturday.Dravid, who endured a disappointing exit as India's captain in the 2007 ODI World Cup, is now on the verge of a memorable farewell as coach. He took over the reins from Ravi Shastri after the 2021 T20 World Cup and has been at the helm for nearly three years.In a promotional video released by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Dravid reflected on his time as coach, describing it as a transformative experience for both him and his family. He praised the professionalism exhibited by the team throughout his tenure, both in victories and defeats.Despite reaching the finals of both the World Test Championship and the 50-over World Cup last year, India fell short against Australia on both occasions. However, Dravid's legacy will be defined by the connections he has built and the impact he has had on the team's culture.Indian captain Rohit Sharma expressed his admiration for Dravid, calling him a "big role model." Sharma, who has played alongside and under Dravid for India, said he had tried unsuccessfully to convince him to stay on as coach."I've enjoyed every bit of it, working with him," Sharma said. "I tried convincing him to stay, but obviously there are a lot of things that he needs to look after as well.""I've personally enjoyed my time with him. I'm sure the rest of the guys will say the same. It's been great working with him."As Dravid prepares for his final match in charge, he will be remembered for his dedication, his ability to connect with players, and his unwavering belief in the team's potential.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is preparing to send a young Indian team to Zimbabwe for a five-match T20I series in July, while the senior players rest ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024.Shubman Gill is expected to lead the team in the absence of Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Suryakumar Yadav. The squad will likely include promising IPL stars like Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Tushar Deshpande, and Harshit Rana.Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rinku Singh, who are currently with the Indian team in the USA and West Indies for the T20 World Cup, will also join the Zimbabwe-bound squad.With Gautam Gambhir's appointment as India's new head coach still pending, National Cricket Academy head VVS Laxman is likely to accompany the team to Zimbabwe along with other coaches. Gambhir is expected to take over for the subsequent tour of Sri Lanka in late July.